The Best PCA Skin Products, Tested and Approved by Our Beauty Editor
If you’re anything like me, you appreciate the power of a good professional skincare line. Ever since discovering PCA Skin some ten-plus years ago, and then getting reacquainted with it again more recently, I’ve been working the clinical results-oriented products, which are backed by science and a favorite amongst estheticians across the country, into my skincare routine and my skin is happy about it. The entire line supports skin health through individualized routines that address a variety of skin types and conditions for dramatic results. Ahead, I test out and review some of PCA Skin’s most popular skincare products and share my favorites that have helped to transform my skin and will help yours, too.
About PCA Skin
Founded in 1990 by an aesthetician and developed by a dermatologist, PCA Skin prides itself on pairing new and efficacious ingredients backed by science with proven, tried-and-true ones to create unparalleled, visible results in the skin. Whether you are looking to reduce breakouts or improve skin hydration, each skincare product in the line is designed to condition the skin holistically. Every PCA Skin formula is fully researched, designed, and executed by the brand’s in-house PhD chemist.
With a heavy pulse on the science of skincare, PCA Skin formulates its products to help improve skin health by relying on ingredients found naturally in the skin and body for maximum compatibility without unnecessary side effects. Effective and consistent outcomes are a top priority for the brand, and it continues to revolutionize professional chemical peels for all skin types to help you achieve your skincare goals.
Discover Some of PCA Skin's Top Skin Care Products
PCA Skin Collagen Hydrator
218 reviews
$59.00
Perfect for serving up a much-needed dose of moisture in the winter and for dry environments, this ultra-moisturizing cream is like a tall drink of water for dry and mature skin types. Thanks to a blend of shea butter, hyaluronic acid, emollients, and wheat protein, the ultra-luxe cream helps to soften the skin while improving moisture retention. Skin is left feeling supple, firm, and perfectly balanced.
Key Ingredients: Shea butter, hyaluronic acid, wheat protein, sweet almond oil
Skin Type: Dry
Skin Benefit: Firms, conditions, and hydrates the skin while balancing out its pH levels
Personal Review: “Like so many people, I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect glass skin routine for my skin, and this moisturizing cream is now part of my rotation. Perfect for 40-something skin like mine, I love how this glides onto my skin and fully absorbs on contact. The first time I used this moisturizer, I could see an instant difference in my skin’s texture and plumpness, and the more I use it, the healthier and dewier my skin has become. A little goes a long way to keep my skin feeling soft and hydrated all day.”
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
317 reviews
$125.00
This lightweight moisturizing face serum is a must for keeping skin looking fresh, hydrated, and healthy. Ideal for all skin types, apply this hyaluronic acid-rich serum to the skin morning and night to deeply hydrate it and lock moisture in. By moisturizing the skin and drawing water to it, fine lines and wrinkles are plumped up, the skin’s surface appears smoother, and the skin’s barrier is better protected.
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, HA-Pro Complex, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid
Skin Type: All
Skin Benefit: Hydrates, smoothes, and plumps
Personal Review: “Hydration is a must in my book, but finding a serum that delivers a dose of moisture without leaving my acne-prone and oily skin looking and feeling greasy is a challenge. I love how this easy-to-wear-under-makeup serum works with—not against—my skin to increase its moisture content and give a natural plumpness. Consider this a skin miracle in a bottle!”
PCA Skin Clearskin
327 reviews
$59.00
All skin types need moisture daily, and oily and acne-prone skin types are no exception to the rule. However, when moisturizing these skin types, non-comedogenic formulas that help heal the skin are necessary. Perfect for alleviating the symptoms of acneic and easily irritated skin, like redness and roughness, this light-as-a-cloud moisturizing cream is super gentle yet ultra-effective in the hydrating department.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, borage seed oil, cucumber extract
Skin Type: Oily, normal, acne-prone, sensitive
Skin Benefit: Hydrating, calming, and soothing
Personal Review: “I’m a sucker for a nice, lightweight hydrating cream-gel, and this one does not disappoint. Fragrance-free and offering the perfect amount of bounce, I appreciate that this moisturizer does not clog my pores or leave my skin looking or feeling like an oil slick, especially in warmer weather. Plus, it helps calm my skin down when it breaks out while balancing out moisture levels, so my skin looks healthy.”
PCA Skin Facial Wash
181 reviews
$38.00
Reach for this face wash for an ultra-refreshing way to cleanse the skin morning and night. Packed with lactic acid for a gentle exfoliating effect, this skin-calming and clarifying cleanser takes away the day in a single swipe, eliminating dirt, oil, makeup, and debris from the skin’s surface so it is clean, soft, and pH-balanced. Plus, it’s compatible for use even on easily irritated skin.
Key Ingredients: Lactic acid, aloe vera leaf juice, allantoin, willow bark extract
Skin Type: Combination, normal, sensitive
Skin Benefit: Cleanses, hydrates, smooths
Personal Review: “There’s nothing better than the feeling of clean skin after washing it, and that’s exactly what this face wash offers. No matter if I use it first thing in the morning to wake up my complexion or at the end of the day to remove my makeup and whatever else has made it onto my skin throughout the day, my skin is always left feeling soft, hydrated, and with a natural glow. Bonus points: the cleanser never strips away much-needed moisture or leaves my skin feeling tight or dry.”
The Bottom Line
Good skincare is a must for healthy, youthful-looking skin, and the best way to achieve that is with professional skincare products that deliver real results. Investing in and taking good care of your skin is rule number one in the quest to get your best skin ever, and PCA Skin products, which are the epitome of science-backed formulas with time-tested ingredients, address various skin-related issues and conditions for visible improvement and dramatic results.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
